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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Richard Ager sitting in for Allison McNair who's on assignment. Welcome to NH Outlook. |
| Intro Legislation Return to index of stories... |
Property tax breaks, when does life begin, and the election that just won't end. Those were all part of the debates and decisions this week at the state legislature. I'll talk with two lawmakers in just a few moments but first, here's a look at just some of what went on this week. |
| Legislative Wrap Return to index of stories... |
LEGISLATIVE WRAP SCRIPT: Soundup: legislature tape 7 11:31:48 It is not theology, it is not personal opinion, it is now scientific fact. Track: In the House session,the contentious issue of abortion drew the most debate as representatives dealt with a right to life bill that would declare life begins at conception. Bite: legislature tape 7 11:32:15 Any basic biology book will tell you that an embroyo or a new human comes into existence when a zygote is produced at fertilization by the combination of a sperm and an ovum. The bill does not overturn Roe v Wade, it does not impose criminal sanctions. It puts fact into law. Track: But opponents say such a law would lead to other restrictions or even a ban on abortions. Bite: legislature tape 7 11:35:20 If we take away today a woman's right to choose, many women will go back to days gone back when they got abortions that were illegal, they were dangerous- do we really want to put people back in that situation? Track: The bill was defeated by a nearly 3-1 margin, confirming that conservatism in New Hampshire are not always social conservatives. The session concluded a week of more than 100 hearings…. Soundup: legislature tape 1 10:40:55 "To give you an example, on Friday at 4:30 we had a circumstance in which where 7 children came into care from the same family. There are a lot of blended families that we are involved in. Track: Working with vulnerable children and troubled families is the job of the Division of Children, Youth and Families - a costly job that DCYF managers explained to the joint House and Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. Soundup: legislature tape 2 11:10:40 "We need to never lose sight of what child protective services and DCYF is all about; it's about children, it's about families. We need to insure quality of care, we need to reinforce and strengthen a very committed staff, a staff who are engaged in very difficult work day in and day out. Track: The new commissioner of Health and Human Services, which includes DCYF, says the tight state budget defines the challenge facing his agency. Soundup: legislature tape 2 11:19:33 Our biggest challenge is to make sure that tax dollars are efficiently spent yet at the same time we are staffing and equipping our staff with the best tools possible. GIVEN THAT YOUR STAFF HAS TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO BY DEFINITION ARE ON THE EDGE, DO YOU HAVE THE SENSE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM, OR THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NECESSARY? There are never enough resources. Just from a purely humane standpoint, this is a situation - in the ideal world, you'd want the biggest gun possible, with that being said - you also have to balance the tax issue. Because also taxes are an insidious issue - they cripple the poor more than anyone else - so it's that balance. In a snapshot, we could always use more resources but at the same time we have a responsibility to the taxpayers of the state. Track: But child welfare advocates say the new commissioner may find what his predecessors have. Soundup: legislature tape 2 11:50:10 I think when he gets around to really looking at DCYF he'll come to the conclusion that most everyone else has that they do need particularly more frontline workers, more people investigating, more people providing services to children and families and then his challenge will be what the challenge has been to every DCYF commissioner that I've ever known of to persuade the legislature that in fact that is a need and not a want as Governor Benson has put it." Bite: Benson tape 13:42:04 I don't have to tell you this is a tough budget. Track: Speaking to reporters Wednesday, the governor addressed reports there could be hundreds of layoffs following next week's budget address. Bite: Benson tape 13:42:08 We're facing an almost $250 million shortfall over the next biennium and that makes it by far the worst budget crisis we've had to face here in the state of NH. So, all options are on the table. We've made no final decisions on what those options are. We're looking at the ramifications of each one of them. I will tell you that our state employees are valuable assets to this state and we're going to make every effort we possibly can to ensure that they have a good job and a reliable job. But that's not to say we don't look at other things that we have to do to balance our budget. Soundup: Find some piece of actuality early in Benson tape where he is touring the home Track: Governor Benson toured a Concord household that is being insulated through a federal program to cut heating costs for low income homes. He said the federal government had sent extra funds for home heating assistance this year, but changes in the program for next year may be needed. Bite: Benson tape 13:43:38 Not only do we have a long winter but we actually expanded services under Gov. shaheen which spread our resources more thinly than I think is prudent. So that extra money has gone to cure some of those ills and I think we now can get through the winter so that we can have home heating oil. Next year, we're going to have to look at something a little differently. Track: Those with low incomes often face trouble paying property taxes - and a group of legislators say it's time to grant real relief from the statewide property tax - and not just for seniors. Bite: legislature tape 5 14:20 Do we want to help one segment - or everyone…. Bite: legislature tape 5 14:17 I pay 11% of my income in property tax - it would go to 8 % with $600 savings…. Track: Finally, something unusual happened this week. A report was released that indicated the state could help many who are convicted of crimes turn their lives around by enrolling them in a drug and alchohol treatment program known as the academy. Tape 4 9:28 Treatment for this is a cost-effective solution.spending funds to reduce crime. Track: And perhaps most attractive to cost-conscious lawmakers - the program has already saved the state $10 million over the past 6 years - and will save even more if it is expanded. |
| Intro Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Joining us for our weekly legislative round-up Republican State Representative Jeff Gilbert, vice-chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Democratic Senator Joseph Foster, vice-chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Thank you both for coming in. |
| Discussion Return to index of stories... |
1: Rep. Gilbert - you're on the committee that has to find the money to run the state government. What is the outlook now as we look toward a budget announcement next week? What revenues are staying solid and what has fallen behind? Business taxes have gone up in recent years - I understand we're even looking at using funds from abandoned property - Senator Foster - given the tough budget, what's your sense of the balancing act the state must do? Layoffs? 2: Is this climate, what happens to proposals like the statewide property tax relief bill put forward by Senator Andy Peterson? Is there room for breaks for the needy? 3: The Coalition of Communities that are known as Donor towns unveiled a new school funding plan at the legislature this week. The gist of their plan - to repeal the statewide property tax and target aid to needier towns. The plan would change the current system over five years and cut existing aid to 85 cities and towns. This would cut state aid levels. Current law provides $3,556 per pupil, while the new system would send out $2,088. Who wants that? The plan includes an amendment to the state constitution that creates a state obligation to provide school aid not less than 31 percent of the state’s average education costs. 4: Who would have thought a race for county attorney could arouse great passion. Even though the November election is two months behind us, we still don't have a county attorney in Hillsborough county - and this week, the House Election Law committee took up a bill to declare Republican John Coughlin the winner - even though the case is now before the state Supreme Court. Let's take a look at some of what was said at that hearing. BALLOT LAW SOT Bite: legislature tape 3 13:43:11 One, we have had election, we have had three recounts. The ballot law commission has certified the results after appeal, the secretary of state has certified the results. In my opinion it's time to seat the winner." Bite: legislature tape 3 13:38:56 "It seems to me that this a gratuitous attempt to pick a fight with the Supreme Court and to throw the weight of the legislature around to change the rules after the game is over and to certify one person over another when there is a genuine question over who won." Democrat Peter McDonough contested the election results because ballots that had his name marked, but that also had a straight Republican ticket marked, were counted for his opponent. 5: There were a couple of attempts at judicial reform voted on this week - one would have given the Senate final approval over judicial appointments, the other wanted to make permanent the kind of work done by the Judicial Nominating Committee - which now exists by executive order. Let's listen to some of the debate. JUDICIARY SOT: leg. tape 7 11:24:40 It brought to light a number of qualified persons throughout the state who are not active in politics, who are not closely associated with those in high places, but those who have practiced long and diligently and quietly and who want to at least have the opportunity to serve on the bench. leg. tape 7 11:28:26 Governor Shaheen asked to kill it, Governor Benson asked to have it killed, and there is no support in the executive branch, and personally, I believe it is a violation of the separation of powers. Senator Foster - do we need more judicial reform? House Judiciary chairman Henry Mock made a point of reminding the legislators about the reform measures already passed in the past two years. There is an independent Judicial Conduct Committee that is independent of the Supreme Court, a mandatory evaluation of every judge in the state has been imposed on the courts and there is a 4 year rotations for chief justice - once David Brock leaves that post. 6: The right to life bill that came up for a vote today - lost about 3-1 - the same margin that has stayed consistent over the years. What do you think it says about this state - which is generally perceived to be pretty conservative? 7: Bill to introduce Keno was overwhelmingly defeated - even though it got support from Sweepstakes commissioner 8: Adoptions have doubled in past 5 years - caseload up at DCYF. 9: We get a nomination for Attorney General next week and a vote at the Executive Council the week after. |
| Ballot law sot Return to index of stories... |
BALLOT LAW BITE Bite: legislature tape 3 13:43:11 One, we have had election, we have had three recounts. The ballot law commission has certified the results after appeal, the secretary of state has certified the results. In my opinion it's time to seat the winner." Bite: legislature tape 3 13:38:56 "It seems to me that this a gratuitous attempt to pick a fight with the Supreme Court and to throw the weight of the legislature around to change the rules after the game is over and to certify one person over another when there is a genuine question over who won." |
| Judiciary sot Return to index of stories... |
JUDICIARY SOT leg. tape 7 11:24:40 It brought to light a number of qualified persons throughout the state who are not active in politics, who are not closely associated with those in high places, but those who have practiced long and diligently and quietly and who want to at least have the opportunity to serve on the bench. leg. tape 7 11:28:26 Governor Shaheen asked to kill it, Governor Benson asked to have it killed, and there is no support in the executive branch, and personally, I believe it is a violation of the separation of powers. |
| Intro Taylor expo Return to index of stories... |
Every year in the heart of winter, thousands of people look forward to the New Hampshire Farm and Forest Expo in Manchester. Everything from "backyard chainsaw" workshops to spinning demonstrations are featured. New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Taylor came up with the idea about twenty years ago. Here's a look at a tour he gave us last year. |
| Expo FARMS & FORESTS Return to index of stories... |
In this story we follow New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture, Steve Taylor, to one of New Hampshire's winter traditions. The New Hampshire Farm and Forest Expo in Manchester. We visit the expo floor where you can find a whole host of agricultural and forest industry representatives. Everything from "backyard chainsaw" workshops to spinning demonstrations. Steve Taylor stops to talk with a women spinning yarn from llama wool and we visit a honey bee farmer who shows us her demonstration hive and products from the hives. And we also take a look at a new $25,000 tractor. |
| Web Pointer Return to index of stories... |
For more information on our program, streaming video, links to our guests and interviews and to tell us what's on your mind in our discussion forum, visit our website at nhptv.org. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - Journalists from around the state discuss the week's top stories. We hope you'll join us. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of our program. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Ally McNair. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you next time on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Stratford Foundation |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. It's our Friday Edition as Journalists from around the state discuss the week's top stories. Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| key: State Politics / Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 2/06/03 22:00 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 26:46 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, we we wrap up the week in the legislature with the capitol roundup - Property tax breaks, when does life begin, and the election that just won't end. Those were all part of the debates and decisions this week at the state legislature. And we here from both sides of the aisle with New Hampshire House Majority whip Representative Rogers Johnson and House Democratic Whip Representative Ray Buckley. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Rep. Barbara Hagan\R - Manchester, Rep. Vivian Desmarais\R - Manchester, Nancy Rollins\DCYF Director, Richard Chevrefils\Assistant Commissioner, NH HHS, Nick Vailas\Commissioner, NH HHS, Steve Varnum\Children's Alliance of NH, Craig Benson\NH Governor, Sen. Andrew Peterson\R - District 11, Dorthea O'Neil\Weare, John Bunker\New Futures, Rep. Jeff Gilbert\R - House Ways & Means Cmte, Sen. Joseph Foster\D - Senate Judiciary Cmte |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |